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Webster 1913 Edition

Impatient

Im-pa′tient

(ĭm-pā′shent)
,
Adj.
[OE.
impacient
, F.
impatient
, fr. L.
impatiens
; pref.
im-
not +
patiens
patient. See
Patient
.]
1.
Not patient; not bearing with composure; intolerant; uneasy; fretful; restless, because of pain, delay, or opposition; eager for change, or for something expected; hasty; passionate; – often followed by at, for, of, and under.
A violent, sudden, and
impatient
necessity.
Jer. Taylor.
Fame,
impatient
of extremes, decays
Not more by envy than excess of praise.
Pope.
The
impatient
man will not give himself time to be informed of the matter that lies before him.
Addison.
Dryden was poor and
impatient
of poverty.
Macaulay.
2.
Not to be borne; unendurable.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Syn. – Restless; uneasy; changeable; hot; eager; fretful; intolerant; passionate.

Im-pa′tient

,
Noun.
One who is impatient.
[R.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Impatient

IMPA'TIENT

,
Adj.
[L. impatiens.] Uneasy or fretful under suffering; not bearing pain with composure; not enduring evil without fretfulness,uneasiness, and a desire or effort to get rid of the evil. Young men are impatient of restraint. We are all apt to be impatient under wrongs; but it is a christian duty not to be impatient in sickness, or under any afflictive dispensation of Providence.
1.
Not suffering quietly; not enduring.
Fame, impatient of extremes, decays
Not more by envy than excess of praise.
2.
Hasty; eager; not enduring delay. The impatient man will not wait for information; he often acts with precipitance. Be not impatient for the return of spring.
3.
Not to be borne; as impatient smart.
This word is followed by of, at, for, or under. We are impatient of restraint, or of wrongs; impatient at the delay of expected good; impatient for the return of a friend, or for the arrival of the mail; impatient under evils of any kind. The proper use of these particles can be learnt only by practice or observation.

IMPA'TIENT

,
Noun.
One who is restless under suffering.

Definition 2024

impatient

impatient

See also: împâtient and inpatient

English

Adjective

impatient ‎(comparative more impatient, superlative most impatient)

  1. Restless and intolerant of delays.
    • Addison
      The impatient man will not give himself time to be informed of the matter that lies before him.
  2. Anxious and eager, especially to begin something.
  3. (obsolete) Not to be borne; unendurable.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
  4. Prompted by, or exhibiting, impatience.
    impatient speeches or replies

Derived terms

Translations

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.pa.sjɑ̃/

Adjective

impatient m ‎(feminine singular impatiente, masculine plural impatients, feminine plural impatientes)

  1. impatient

Noun

impatient m ‎(plural impatients)

  1. impatient person

Etymology

From Old French impacient (modern: impatient), from Latin impatiens.

Pronunciation

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